Here’s a level-headed assessment of the war’s Middle East theater from a letter to the Herald-Tribune of Sarasota, Florida:

Al-Qaida’s leader is stuck in a cave in Afghanistan while we gradually kill off his cohorts in Iraq. Our diplomacy with Iran should be tough, real tough. To get real, the most likely scenario after U.S. withdrawal from Iraq will be unrestricted bloody conflict there. Hamas in Lebanon and the Palestinian Authority will be panting for the blood of Israelis. Pakistan and Egypt, already under attack, will yield to the fanatics. Saudi Arabia, now facing violent terror attacks, will reel as its princes strive for control. And Turkey: Who or what will save it? How many tens of thousands will die? Is that the world that realistic Americans can foresee as a result of surrendering the entire Mideast to Muslim fanatics? We should remember that 9/11, as well as attacks on our embassies, barracks, ships and the first bombing of the Twin Towers took place before the invasion of Iraq. Finally, sanity is now returning to Europe, with Germany and France electing governments friendly to the U.S.

Would that war supporters in Washington spoke with as much clarity.